Rope game device

ABSTRACT

Known climbing frames having a support frame, in which a rope net is rigged, are not very attractive as individual playing devices, as no considerable 3-dimensional net volume is provided and on the other hand as the device cannot be combined by modular elements to larger units. 
     According to the present embodiment, the support frame consists of at least one pentagonal frame element, wherein a separate rope net is rigged within each frame element. The frame elements can thus be assembled in a modular manner to form complex 3-dimensional structures.

The invention relates to a rope game device with a support frame and arope net rigged up within the support frame.

Climbing nets made from ropes have as climbing devices for children playgrounds as well as sport and leisure facilities for climbing, travellingalong a rope by the hands and swinging a large importance for playingenjoyment.

Climbing frames for children with a support frame determining the outercontour of the frame and a rope net rigged up therewithin are known forexample from DE-A 2 064 791. Between the knot points of the supportframe, formed as a cuboid or as a octahedron, ropes are rigged asconnection elements. In this case also pressure rods of the supportframe can be partially omitted and can be substituted by an innerpressure rod within the 3-dimensional rope net. The 3-dimensional netbecomes then as a whole elastic and can swing.

The frame shape described there on the basis of a rectangular as anindividual game device, is, however, not very attractive, as noconsiderable 3-dimensional net volume results, on the other hand thedevice cannot be combined by means of a modular construction to a largerunit, as besides a multiplication of the individual game device noeffect is achieved in reference to the design of attractive3-dimensional forms. Because of this, in larger game devices, supportframes, in the shape of a polyhedron are used, in which inner space asingle larger rope net is rigged.

The net structure shown in DE-A 2 064 791 is, further, because ofpartially three ropes, intersecting each other in one point, expensiveto be manufactured, and furthermore, includes the danger, that dangerousand in view of the valid safety standards, not allowed angles areformed.

It is the object of the invention to provide a rope game device of theabove named type, by which a high play value is ensured by means of asufficient 3-dimensional net volume, which can be enlarged modularly toa larger unit and in which no angles, which are not allowed, are formedbetween the ropes.

The object is solved according to the invention by the features of claim1. Embodiments of the invention formed according to the purpose aresubject of the dependent claims.

According to this, the support frame consists of at least one pentagonalframe element, wherein within each frame element a separate rope net isrigged.

The invention has the advantage, that the pentagonal frame elements canbe attached to each other in any suitable way, wherein the imaginedplanes, formed by the pentagons, can be arranged to each other at anangle, so that complex 3-dimensional forms can be achieved. Thus, theframe elements can be combined to a dodecahedron, parts thereof or toother tent-like forms, wherein these form structures can again beattached to each other in series. As in each frame element an individualrope net is rigged, the frame elements can at least be partiallypre-assembled and combined modularly.

For connecting the frame elements as well as for rigging the individualropes, well known hollow ball connectors are used. Their inner faces arealready prepared for common connection angles. The openings allow theassembly of rods with common tools. By means of closure means, theopenings are protected against the access by unauthorised persons oragainst the weather.

The invention has the further advantage, that by means of the use of a3-dimensional frame work with large hollow balls as connectors as wellas by means of the pentagonal increased number of rigging possibilitiesa 3-dimensional net with a large volume and which can be rigged equally,is produced, without producing dangerous angles, because of the3-dimensional narrowness, at the rigging knots.

The balanced rigging of the inner 3-dimensional net enables to ensure arope geometry which is optical as well as technically advantageous forclimbing, wherein no not allowed angles between the ropes are produced.

In the following the invention is described in detail by means ofembodiments. In the attached drawings

FIG. 1 shows an individual frame element with an inner 3-dimensional netaccording to the invention in a perspective view,

FIG. 2 shows the frame element of FIG. 1 in a top view,

FIG. 3 shows the frame element of FIG. 1 in a tipped manner in aperspective view,

FIG. 4 shows a frame element with a 2-dimensional net and additionalguys,

FIG. 5 shows a rope game device consisting of two frame elementsattached in series to each other in a perspective view,

FIG. 6 shows the rope game device of FIG. 5 in a top view,

FIG. 7 shows a rope game device consisting of three frame elementsattached in series to each other, in a perspective view,

FIG. 8 shows the rope game device of FIG. 7 in a top view,

FIG. 9 shows a rope game device consisting of four frame elementsattached in series to each other, in a perspective view,

FIG. 10 shows the rope game device of FIG. 9 in a top view,

FIG. 11 shows a rope game device consisting of five frame elementsattached in series to each other, in a perspective view,

FIG. 12 shows the rope game device of FIG. 11 in a top view,

FIG. 13 shows a rope game device consisting of six frame elementsattached in series to each other, in a perspective view,

FIG. 14 shows the rope game device of FIG. 13 in a top view,

FIG. 15 shows a rope game device also consisting of six frame elementsattached in series to each other in a different arrangement in aperspective view,

FIG. 16 shows the rope game device of FIG. 15 in a top view,

FIG. 17 shows a rope game device consisting of eight frame elementsattached in series to each other, in a perspective view,

FIG. 18 shows the rope game device of FIG. 17 in a top view,

FIG. 19 shows a rope game device consisting of nine frame elementsattached in series to each other in a perspective view,

FIG. 20 shows the rope game device of FIG. 19 in a top view,

FIG. 21 shows a rope game device consisting of six combinationsconsisting according to FIGS. 7 and 8 each of three parts, in aperspective view,

FIG. 22 shows the rope game device of FIG. 21 in a top view.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a single frame element, consisting of five frame rods1, connected by means of first set of hollow ball connectors 2 in acommon plane. Within the frame element a 3-dimensional net 3 is riggedby rapes, in which the lower 22 and upper 20 rope net knots aretensioned against each other by means of a pressure rod 4, for whichsecond set of hollow ball connectors 22, 20 serve. The 3-dimensional net3 can, because of this, swing as a whole, what immensely increases theadventure value during climbing activities.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the frame element from a different perspective.

FIG. 4 shows a frame element, in which a 2-dimensional net 5 is rigged.Additionally, again a pressure rod 4 is provided, arranged perpendicularto the net face and which is held by additional guys 6. The guys 6engage as in the above described embodiment on the second set of hollowball connectors 22, 20.

The further drawings show rope game devices as combinations from severalframe elements, respectively, wherein in the figures, because ofclarity, no reference numerals are used any more.

FIG. 5 shows a rope game device consisting of two frame elements,wherein the planes, formed by the respective frame rods 1, can bearranged to each other at an angle in such a way, that, respectively,one frame rod 1 of each frame element is arranged in the abutment plane.In this case, support piles, which engage on individual hollow ballconnectors 2 of the first set, may serve for the further support of therope game device.

FIG. 6 shows this game device in a top view.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example for a rope game device, combined fromthree frame elements, wherein a tent-like construction is produced.

Similar 3-dimensional constructions are produced according to FIGS. 9and 10 by a combination consisting of four frame elements.

The five frame elements of FIGS. 11 and 12 are combined to a ring, whichaccording to the arrangement of FIGS. 13 and 14 can also be closed atthe top by means of a sixth frame element, so that a ball-segment-like3-dimensional construction is achieved.

The rope game device according to FIGS. 15 and 16 is combined from sixframe elements, that according to FIGS. 17 and 19 is combined from eightframe elements and that according to FIGS. 19 and 29 from nine frameelements.

The example of FIGS. 21 and 22 shows, that the system can beinfinitively combined. In the shown case six three-part combinations, ofwhich each forms individually a tent form, are connected to a ring.

REFERENCE NUMERALS LIST

-   1 Frame element (frame rod)-   2 Hollow ball connector-   3 3-dimensional net-   4 Pressure rod-   5 2-dimensional net-   6 Guys

1. Rope game device comprising a support frame and rope nets riggedwithin the support frame, wherein the support frame comprises aplurality of frame elements connected in series with each other, each ofsaid frame elements composed of frame rods living in a single plane,adjoining sides of connected frame elements sharing a common frame rod,wherein at least one of said frame elements is a pentagonal frameelement, each of said frame elements comprising a separate rope netrigged therewithin, the rope net having an upper rope net knot pointresiding outside one side of said single plane and a lower rope net knotpoint residing outside the other side of said single plane, the upperand lower knot points being separated in tension from each other via apressure rod disposed therebetween.
 2. Rope game device according toclaim 1, wherein the rope net is formed by a 3-dimensional net.
 3. Ropegame device according to claim 1, wherein the rope net is formed by atleast one 2-dimensional net.
 4. Rope game device according to claim 1,wherein ends of the pressure rod are anchored by guys extending to knotpoints of the support frame.
 5. Rope game device according to claims 1,wherein the frame rods of the support frame are connected to each otherat support frame knot points, the support frame knot points being formedas hollow ball connectors.
 6. Rope game device according to claim 4,wherein the pressure rod ends are connected to the guys at therespective upper and lower net knot points, the net knot points beingformed as hollow ball connectors.